Swar Katha Upanishad

Jagriti theater in Bangalore featured Swar Katha Upanishad - an interplay of Hindustani Music and theater. The story was about Nachiketa the prince who was given to Yama the God of Death by Nachiketa's father Vājashrava in a fit of anger. Nachiketa went to Death's home, but Yama was out, and he waited three days. When Yama returned, he was sorry to see that a guest had been kept waiting. He told Nachiketato ask for three boons. Nachiketa first asked for peace for his father and himself. Yama agreed. Next, Nachiketa wished to learn the sacred fire sacrifice, which also Yama granted. For his third boon, Nachiketa asked to learn the mystery of what comes after death. Yama was reluctant on this question; he said that this had been a mystery even to the gods. He asked Nachiketa to ask for some other boon, and offered many material gains. But Nachiketa replied that material things will last only till the morrow. He who has encountered Death personally, how can he desire wealth? No other boon would do. Yama was secretly pleased with this disciple, and elaborated on the nature of the true Self, which persists beyond death. The key of the realization is that this Self (within each person) is inseparable from the supreme spirit, the vital force in the universe.This dialog between Yama and Nachiketa forms the essence of Katha Upanishad. Where do we go after death? What remains when the body is gone? How do we live so that we accept death? Sometimes a performance seems to resonate a bit more because it reflects the mood of the audience. I was in Mumbai yesterday evening when the three blasts happened. Having seen the mindless pictures of death, this show couldn't have been timed better.45 shlokas (verses) were put to music using 20 Ragas - from Ahir Bhairav to Raga Jaijaiwanti by the noted guru of Dhrupad music Ramakant Gundecha. Twenty four singers of Sunaad (see Sunaad.org) performed this and kept the audience spell bound. Each shloka is explained in English before before being sung in the Sanskrit verse. Anand Kasturi does a remarkable job of being the Sutradhar.Dhrupad is one of the most pristine forms of Hindustani Classical Music that traces its roots back to the times of the Vedas. You can get an excellent write up on the history of Dhrupad music and its musicians at http://dhrupad.org/Catch the performance on Friday 15 July 2011 to Sunday 17 July 2011. The show starts at 6:30pm sharp. Go watch it.Enjoy a beautiful performance by the Gundecha Brothers in Raga Adana - a Raga that is sung between midnight and two am.